The Persistent Spiral: The Ancient History of Lyme Disease and Co-Infections

What do dinosaurs, a Neanderthal elder named Nandy, Otzi-the Ice Mummy, Ancient Chinese Chickens, Roman Cats, Richard the Lionhearted, and Catherine of Aragon have in common? The answer: they all suffered from Lyme disease or related Tick-borne infections. Lyme disease is caused by a group of bacteria called Borrelia that have been around for millions of years. Borrelia are spiral shaped spirochetes that are spread by the bite of Ixodes ticks. Lyme disease is recognized by the CDC as the leading cause of tick-borne infection in the United States. The history of this spiral is one of persistence. Paleoborrelia was its very ancient ancestor. It has been found within fifteen million year old ticks that became fossilized within amber. It may have infected the dinosaurs. It has been lurking in and on the edges of the temperate forests of Eurasia and North America for eons. It bugged the Neanderthals. Spirochetes and bone infections have been found in some of their ancient skeletal remains. The earliest verified case of Lyme disease was found during DNA analysis of the genome of the mummy named Otzi, who died 5300 years ago and was preserved in ice on the Italian Alps. Borrelia anseria, which afflicts poultry, was spread around the world along by the popularity of cock-fighting. The Crusaders were plagued by ticks, lice, and disease on their way to Jerusalem. Richard the Lionhearted suffered from Borrelia vincenti, better known as Trench Mouth, and a Relapsing Fever. Ticks harbor a multitude of pathogens. These include Rickettsia, Bartonella, Babesia, Powassan Virus and Anaplasma. Cats helped spread Bartonella around the world. King Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was chronically ill for much of her life after she suffered from The English Sweating Sickness, which may have been caused by a particularly virulent mix of Lyme disease and Babesia infection that swept through England. Afterwards, Catherine endured a string of heartbreaking miscarriages and still births. This book covers the Ancient History of Lyme disease and Tick-borne infections. It can be considered a prequel to Disguised as the Devil-How Lyme disease Created Witches and Changed History.

About the Author :
M.M. Drymon is a historian, writer, and activist who lives in a city on the beautiful and quaint coast of Maine. With an extensive background as a museum and historic preservation professional, she has written about Landscape Change, the Salem Witch Trials, Scotch-Irish Foodways, and Medical history. She is an Autism and Lyme Disease advocate. Dr. Drymon has a M.A. in American and New England Studies and a PHD in Public Policy.